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Yesavage throws 6 2/3 innings, Okamoto has three hits in Blue Jays’ 5-2 win over Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trey Yesavage allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings, Kazuma Okamoto went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Wednesday.

The Blue Jays improved to 13-18-4 in series play and completed their six-game road trip at 3-3.

Yesavage (5-5) struck out four and walked three. The 23-year-old rookie worked his third quality start in his past five games and lowered his ERA to 3.73.

The Nats got on the board first thanks to Jacob Young’s RBI double in the fourth.

Ernie Clement hit an RBI double in the sixth to drive in George Springer, and Daulton Varsho singled to bring Okamoto across in the seventh.

Okamoto added insurance with a two-run double in the eighth, and Springer tacked on one more with a single.

Washington threatened to take the lead after loading the bases with one out in the eighth, but Louis Varland entered and worked out of the jam with a groundout, strikeout and flyout.

Varland also threw a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save.

For the Nats, James Wood was 2-for-3, and Luis García Jr. drove in a run in the eighth. Starter Luke Littell worked 4 2/3 innings and surrendered four hits while striking out two. Orlando Ribalta (0-2) took the loss in relief.

Up next

The Blue Jays take Thursday off before hosting the Cardinals. RHP Kyle Leahy (7-4, 3.55 ERA) starts for St. Louis. Toronto has not announced a starter.

The Nationals hit the road for a four-game series in Atlanta. RHP Grant Holmes (6-4, 3.79 ERA) takes the hill for the Braves. The Nats have not named a starter.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Blue Jays’ Bieber struggles through ‘worst’ outing, walks 6 in two-thirds of an inning vs. Nats

WASHINGTON (AP) — Toronto pitcher Shane Bieber’s start against the Washington Nationals was anything but a walk in the park. The former Cy Young Award winner issued walks to six of the nine batters he faced — including three with the bases loaded — before departing after two-thirds of an inning Tuesday night in the Blue Jays' 8-6 loss. In his previous 149 pitching appearances, the 31-year-old right-hander's high for walks was five. According to Stathead/Baseball Reference, Bieber is the 11th pitcher in major league history to walk at least six while recording two outs or less, and the first to do so since Florida’s Ryan Dempster on Oct. 5, 2001, at Atlanta. Bieber said he had difficulty gripping the ball and struggled with his command as a result. Bieber didn't walk anyone in his previous start Thursday, when he allowed one run in seven innings against Tampa Bay.
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